Abstract: A method of remotely scanning and repairing viruses on a local computer having a normal operating system, the method comprising the steps of loading into memory of the local computer, a bootable virus utility operating program from a storage medium, the bootable virus utility operating program being operated locally by the local computer and independently of the normal operating system; and establishing communications between the local computer and a remote computer through operation of the virus utility operating program by the local computer. Wherein the virus utility operating program includes a virus scanning program. Further including the step of querying the user and monitoring the local computer display for user information regarding virus scanning and repair utility options through the operation of the remote computer and executing virus scanning and repair utility programs at the local computer after executing a remote data recovery function.